Russia to introduce arms embargo against Georgia

Russia introduced a draft resolution to the UN Security Council on the non-militarization of Georgia. The document stipulates a complete blockade of arms shipments and military materials to Georgia. Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, stated that such a measure would stabilize the situation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“We believe that the unrestrained arming of Georgia, which the United States and several other countries have been supporting during the recent several years, has obviously contributed to the aggressive actions, which Saakashvili committed against South Ossetia,” Churkin said.

The draft resolution says that all countries will take necessary measures with a view to block directly or indirectly the delivery or sales of arms and military hardware to Georgia and any other adequate material means.

“We believe that the arms embargo against Georgia would be necessary to normalize the state of affairs in the conflict area. The European Union must be interested in the endeavor too now, taking into consideration the fact that the EU has become the guarantor of Georgia’s intention not to use force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia under the documents dated of September 8,” Churkin said.

“Georgia must be interested in this issue too, for it must make a decisive turn to peace and not spend any money on arms to pose a threat to its neighbors,” RIA Novosti quoted Vitaly Churkin as saying.

“Russia realizes that the approval of this resolution is not going to be easy, taking account of USA’s stance at the UN Security Council. However, we are certain that such a political step is necessary and we have made it,” the Russian ambassador to the UN said.

The official also added that Russia considers it impossible to hold an official session to prolong the mandate of the UN Mission in Georgia without the participation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The USA has repeatedly put obstacles on the way of Abkhazia’s participation in UN Security Council’s meetings, denying visas to the country’s officials.

Russian peacemakers are still stationed in the buffer zone in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Their deployment is stipulated by previously concluded agreements on the regulation of the conflict and does not contradict to Medvedev-Sarkozy plan.

Sixty-four Russian servicemen have been killed and 323 have been wounded in the conflict.